Device for opening containers



Cct. 3l,v 195() l J. F. HoDGsoN DEVICE EOE OPENING CONTAINERS Filed Nov. 9, 1945 07m/antw" ,James E Hodgson AO/"Hey Patented ()ct. 31, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE James F. Hodgson, Marietta, Pa.

Application November 9, 1945, Serial No. 627,740

This invention relates to a device for opening containers and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which can be easily engaged and disengaged `with respect to its work.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which is constructed in a manner to operate to readily and completely sever the top of a container close to theside walls thereof and at the same time atten the severed edges of the top of the container to preclude inljury to persons handling the open container or the contents thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a. device of this kind particularly designed and adapted for use with containers` having a plane top and wherein the device can be employed with equal facility with containers of various sizes, shapes and depths.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which, during its opening operation, will also readily pass over `the conventional inside seam of the container and thereby substantially eliminate the liability of shearing off solder or portions of the tin or other material of the container to drop into the contents of the container.

The invention as herein embodied also has for an object to provide a device wherein the cutting element may have two distinct settings, one of which is rigid at a predetermined angle and the other setting being loose to yield to self-adjustment to compensate for any irregularities, such as seams, square corners, bent rims, etc.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved device for opening containers whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation looking at one side of the device;

Figure 2 is an elevational view looking at the side of the device opposite to Figure 1, with an .associated container diagrammatically indicated `by broken lines; and

yon the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

,s claims. (ci. 3o-s) I Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure 6.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6--6 of Figure 3.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, S denotes a flat supporting member or plate provided at one extremity with a laterally disposed ange I of a length to extend above and below the adjacent end of the member or plate S and which ange provides means whereby the member or plate S may be effectively anchored to a wall or the like through the medium of holding screws 2 or otherwise as may be preferred.

. The end portion of the member or plate S remote from the flange I, or what may be termed the outer end portion, is transversely enlarged, as at 3, said enlarged portion being disposed downwardly. The forward extremity of the member or plate S in the lower part thereof and at substantially the junction of the portion 3 with the plate, is provided with an opening l which is dened by an outstanding bearing bushing 5 through which is insertible an end portion of an operating crank C.

This extremity of the crank C1 at its end is provided with a reduced portion 6 which threads within a central opening 1 in a can rim engaging driving wheel 8 of desired diameter. This wheel 8 has its periphery provided therearound with the sharp teeth or spines 9 for engagement from below with the usual outstanding rim IIJ of the conventional container A of tin or kindred metal now generally in use. This rotor or feed Wheel B by its engagement with the rim I0 operates to impose the desired rotation to the container A during acutting operation as will be hereinafter more particularly set forth.

At a desired location above the wheel 8 and at the same side of the member or plate S is an elongated bar or arm I I, possessing a certain degree of inherent resiliency, and disposed in a general direction lengthwise of the member or plate S and having its inner extremity pivotally held, as at I2, to the member or plate S. This pivotal mounting I2 is herein disclosed as in relatively close proximity to the inner end of the member or plate S and slightly above the wheel 8. This arm II is of such length as to have its forward or free end extend over the wheel 8 and beyond the center of such wheel 8 at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the member or plate S. The outer or free end portion of the arm I I carries an underlying cutter blade I4 of a depth to ypenetrate under pressure the top of the container A and to properly sever such top when the con- .holding or clamping nut 24.

tainer A is in rotation. As is clearly illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, this cutter blade I4 is carried by the arm II in a position sufliciently spaced from the wheel 8 to allow the cutter blade I4 to penetrate the top of the container A inwardly of but in close proximity to the side wall of the container.

This cutter blade I4 at its inner end is provided with a head I5 for clamping contact when desired with the under surface of the arm or bar II and said head I5 at the axial center of the cutter blade I4 carries the outstanding shank I6 which is freely insertible through the properly positioned opening I'I in the arm or bar I I. This shank I.6 is of a length to extend above the arm or bar `II and threading upon said extended portion are the holding nuts I8.

These nuts I8 can be so adjusted as to effect a tightI or rigid securement of the cutter blade I4 at such angle as may be desired or these nuts IB may `be so adjusted to provide a loose mounting of the cutter blade I4 to allow the same to readily roll .over seams on the inside of the container A.

Secured, as at the arm or bar II is a forwardly facing clip or Threading upon the free end portion of this pivot bolt 22 and, of course, at the side of the member or plate S remote from the lever 2| is a The slot -23 permits an adjustment of .the lever 2! to increase or decrease pressure on ,the container rim `when the device Vis in operation Aand at which `time the arm or bar I i bears `down upon said container rim.

The lever 2l is of a vlength to extend beyond the outer end of the memberor plate S and said .extended portion carries a suitable hand grasp 25. The outer end portion of .the member or plate S in its upper ypart is provided therethrough with a second slot 2B through which is disposed a laterally directed shank .2 carried by the arm or bar I l and the outer end portion of this shank 21 carries a head 28.

Interposedbetween this head 28 and the member or plate S is an expansible member 29, here- `in disclosed as a-coil spring, encircling the-shank 21. This member or spring 29 holds therarm or bar Il against the member or plate S but permits yielding pressure on the inside of the rim ofthe container and allows for yielding movement of the 'cutter Ablade I 4 when the same passes over an inside seam'of the container.

The extent of swinging movement of the lever l-2I in either directionis determined by the properyly positioned stops @U carried by the member or I9, to the central portion of plate S and disposed beyondthe face thereof ad- 1fjacent to the "lever l2I.

Carried -by Ythe shank I6 of the cutter blade limited turning of the cutter shank by contact Ioi' the extremities of the edges 3 I ya with the adjafcent'side of themember or plate S.

It Vis to be stated that the slotr26 is ofY such .width .with-respect to the shank A2l as to eliminate any 4 interference to the rocking movement of the lever 2I.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a device for opening containers constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

1. Ay device of the class described comprising a support, a can rim engaging feed wheel rotatably carried by the support, an arm pivotally attached to the support for vertical swinging movement, a cutter blade carried by the arm for pene-4 trating a wall of the container and cutting such wall upon rotation of the container, the cutter blade being turnable on an axis perpendicular to Vthe rotary axis of the feed wheel, and means for limiting the turning of the cutter blade.

2. A device of the character described cornprising a support, a feed wheel carried thereby, a member carried by the support for swinging movement toward or from the feed wheel, a cutter blade mounted on said member for partial rotation on an axis perpendicular to the swinging axis of the member, and releasable means for locking the cutter blade against turning on its rotation axis.

3. A device of the class described comprising a support, a feed wheel rotatably carried thereby, an elongated bar pivotally engaged .with the support for movement toward or from the feed wheel and overlying said feed wheel, a, cutter blade carried by the bar adjacent to and disposed toward the feed wheel, a lever operatively engaged with the support and with the bar for moving the bar toward or from'the feed wheel, and a clip mounted on the bar, an extremity of thelever engaging between said clip and the bar.

4. A can opener of the rotary drive wheel type comprising a plate body, a peripherally toothed driving wheel rotatably supported thereon, means for rotating the driving wheel, a relatively long bar disposed adjacent to the side of the plate on which the wheel is located and pivotally secured at one end to the plate for swinging in a vertical plane over the wheel, a cutter carried by the bar and directed downwardly vfor engagement with the head of a can having its rim engaged by said wheel, said cutter including a stem extending through the bar for turning movement on an axis perpendicular to the bar, means carried by the stern for contact with the adjacent side of the body plate to limit the turning of the stem and cutter, and means connected with the plate above the bar whereby the manual application of -downward thrust maybegiven to the bar.

5. A can opener of the character stated in claim 5, wherein the means for limiting the turning of the cutter and stem comprises a plate disposed on the stem horizontally above the bar and securing members carried'by the stem above and below the plate for locking the plate in position, said plate having two angularly related edge portions adapted for contact with the adjacent face of the body plate.

6. A can opener structure of the character stated in claim 5, wherein the said means for manually applying downward thrust to said bar comprises a relatively long lever disposed above the bar and Vin longitudinal relation therewith, lmeans pivotally coupling the lever with the body plate for oscillation of the lever on an axis paralleling the oscillation axis for the bar, said lever having an end extending fbeyond the forward edge of the body plate, a hand grip upon the extended end of the lever, and means loosely coupling the other end of the lever with the bar.

7. A can opener structure of the character stated in claim 5, wherein the body plate is provided with a vertical slot above said drive Wheel, said bar extending across the slot, a bolt extending through the slot and engaging in the bar, the bolt having a head upon the end remote from the bar, and a spring interposed between the bolt head and the adjacent side of the body plate and constantly drawing the bar toward the body plate.

r 8. A can opener of the'character stated in claim 5, wherein said means for manually applying downward thrust to the bar, comprises a relatively long lever disposed above the bar and eX- tending longitudinally thereof, a vertical slot formed in the body plate adjacent to the inner end of the lever, a bolt passing through said slot and engaging the bar and carrying an element upon the end thereof remote from the lever, said element engaging the opposite side of the body plate from the lever, means at the other end of the lever for grasping the same, means forming a loose connection between the inner end of the lever and the bar, and spaced stop members carried by the body plate between which the lever is positioned for limiting the swinging movement of the lever.

JAMES F. HODGSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: Y

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,534,932 Edlund Apr. 21, 1925 1,617,142 Asbury Feb. 8, 1927 1,889,119 Brocksmith Nov. 29, 1932 2,070,261 Dazey Feb. 9, 1937 2,446,633 Chandler et al. Aug. 10, 1948 

